21.02.12
New free school in Bradford
A new science-specialised free school, the Kings Science Academy, is to be built in Bradford through the Partnerships for Schools academies framework.
BAM Construction has been awarded the £9m design and construction contract, and the school will be run by the Kings Free Schools and Academies Trust.
Steve Wheller, BAM Construct director, said the budget of the school design focused on educational benefits rather than structural solutions, making it a value for money project.
He said: “We have worked closely with the principal, Sajid Hussain, to come up with a solution which maximises the use of the existing structures resulting in less money and time being spent in the ground and allowing the redirection of funds on the areas which will make a difference to teaching and learning, such as efficient use of space, and effective integration of IT.”
Elements of the existing industrial site infrastructure will be included in the design to create the academy, the contractor said. The building is also designed to be easy to maintain, and with natural light and ventilation, to keep running costs to a minimum.
Work is due to start in March this year, with the students relocating to the school in September 2012 into the first phase of the new building. The whole development will be completed in spring 2013 and will hold about 800 pupils.
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